Washington (AFP) - President Joe Biden led emotional tributes Tuesday to the second US Capitol Police officer slain this year, hailing a "hero" who was manning a barricade when he was struck and killed by an attacker's car.
The flag-draped casket of officer William "Billy" Evans, a 41-year-old father of two, was carried into the Rotunda so that the 18-year veteran of the department could lie in honor.
It was the second such ceremony of 2021, occurring barely three months after an assault on the US Capitol by pro-Trump rioters left another officer dead.
Evans was killed and a colleague injured on April 2 when a car driven by Noah Green, a man whose online postings suggested a level of despair and paranoia, slammed into them at a Capitol check point.
Authorities said Green, 25, exited his car wielding a knife and was shot dead by police.
Grieving officers filled seats on the floor of the Rotunda Tuesday. Evans' young children -- daughter Abigail and son Logan -- clutched stuffed animals as they sat next to their mother.
"Your son, your husband, your brother, your dad was a hero," said a somber Biden, who recalled his own share of personal tragedy.
"I have some idea what you're feeling like. I buried two of my children," the 78-year-old leader said.
"But you all have got to know that you're going to make it, by holding each other together -- most importantly by holding Logan and Abigail as tightly as you can," Biden said. "Because as long as you have them, you've got Billy."
Congressional leaders -- wearing masks due to coronavirus precautions -- including Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell presented wreaths of flowers and paid their respects.
Biden did the same, then saluted and placed his hand on his heart.
The latest attack on the citadel of American democracy has sparked a debate over whether fencing around the 59-acre (24-hectare) campus, much of which was dismantled two months after the January 6 attack, should have been kept in place.
